15 year old (minor) cannot take last flight of day? (to merge)
#31
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: District of Columbia
Programs: AA ExecPl, AT Gold, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Diamond, Hilton Diamond, National
Posts: 2,433
OK, first person experience here. Well, my son, anyway.
We put him on a flight to summer camp as a15 year old, BDL to BWI.
They arrived around 8:30 on a Sunday night. At 9 the Airport Security called to advise my wife and I that my son was safe and with them, but when they go off shift at 10PM, thee are required by law to hand him over to DYFS, and he would have to be put into the system. Is there anyone we knew or could call. Nice kid, we would take him hone, but of course that would mean our jobs.
In the end he was picked up by the camp, but you cannot imagine the views we created in our minds about "being put into the DYFS system" and what it could take to get him out.
So one airport, one example, nothing more.
We put him on a flight to summer camp as a15 year old, BDL to BWI.
They arrived around 8:30 on a Sunday night. At 9 the Airport Security called to advise my wife and I that my son was safe and with them, but when they go off shift at 10PM, thee are required by law to hand him over to DYFS, and he would have to be put into the system. Is there anyone we knew or could call. Nice kid, we would take him hone, but of course that would mean our jobs.
In the end he was picked up by the camp, but you cannot imagine the views we created in our minds about "being put into the DYFS system" and what it could take to get him out.
So one airport, one example, nothing more.
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Programs: AA
Posts: 14,650
#33
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold but PlatPro thanks to LPs
Posts: 4,438
I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law. If something can go wrong, it will go wrong.
It's one thing to parse the CoC and determine that your child is actually eligible to take the last flight of the day. However, that does you no good if the kid ends up somewhere and a gate agent or ticket agent refuses to board the kid based on their reading of the CoC.
As you and the kid are waiting for a supervisor to arrive, possibly agree to your interpretation then override the GA, the plane takes off and your kid is stranded.
If it were my kid, I'd just avoid booking the last flight of the day until he's older.
It's one thing to parse the CoC and determine that your child is actually eligible to take the last flight of the day. However, that does you no good if the kid ends up somewhere and a gate agent or ticket agent refuses to board the kid based on their reading of the CoC.
As you and the kid are waiting for a supervisor to arrive, possibly agree to your interpretation then override the GA, the plane takes off and your kid is stranded.
If it were my kid, I'd just avoid booking the last flight of the day until he's older.
#34
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: 6E Westbound, 4E Eastbound
Programs: AA EXP & 3MM, Priority Club Plat since 1984
Posts: 6,293
My son arrived at BWI, picked up his luggage and was just sitting there alone. Initially the camp van missed him, he was a small 15 and security felt it was acting in the best interest of an unaccompanied minor.
#35
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Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
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#36
#37
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
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Posts: 27,730
I don't think anyone (or at least the majority) were suggesting that this was an excessively -good- idea-- personally I certainly don't think so.
In any case, I'm now led to believe that it -is- the case that a 15 year old, can, in fact, travel solo and can utilize any flight during the day.
Again, NOT to suggest it's a good idea at all.
In any case, I'm now led to believe that it -is- the case that a 15 year old, can, in fact, travel solo and can utilize any flight during the day.
Again, NOT to suggest it's a good idea at all.
#38
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 22,925
Granted, the following is DL's policy, not AA's, but it seems pretty clear they do not have the restrictions on 15 year old's who do not participate in the UNMR program --
https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...--service.html
https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...--service.html
#39
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
#40
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
I do not see it this way. It is clear that he is "unaccompanied minor" and it clearly states that he can not take that last flight. There are no two
interpretations.
If he wants to take that flight he must be a "accompanied" since he is a
"minor"...
I agree with that policy in this sue-happy country of ours !
F.A.
interpretations.
If he wants to take that flight he must be a "accompanied" since he is a
"minor"...
I agree with that policy in this sue-happy country of ours !
F.A.
#41
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
I don't think anyone (or at least the majority) were suggesting that this was an excessively -good- idea-- personally I certainly don't think so.
In any case, I'm now led to believe that it -is- the case that a 15 year old, can, in fact, travel solo and can utilize any flight during the day.
Again, NOT to suggest it's a good idea at all.
In any case, I'm now led to believe that it -is- the case that a 15 year old, can, in fact, travel solo and can utilize any flight during the day.
Again, NOT to suggest it's a good idea at all.
Even if he was accustomed to flying and connecting, etc., how would he book a hotel in the event of a cancellation?
#42
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 3,698
In any case, not that relevant to the OP's situation since they indicate there's friends in the area who would be able to help out if necessary.
#43
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: South Park, Metropolis
Programs: AA LT PLT 3MM, Hilton/Marriott/SPG/Club Carlson GLD, IHG PLT
Posts: 4,606
Anyone read this post on the Air Canada forum? a minor was bumped from a flight.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...overnight.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/air-c...overnight.html
#44
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: PHL
Programs: AA, BA, Admirals, Accor, HHG, Global Entry
Posts: 132
I suppose it would be the same as receiving an unaccompanied minor at the final destination, but policy is policy. And no business is stricter on policy than airlines (Especially AA.)
#45
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Texas
Programs: Hyatt Glob (Barely); Marriott Plat Life; AA Up and Down Now Plat; Hilton, UA, BA, HA Peasant
Posts: 2,660
Airport Security called to advise my wife and I that my son was safe and with them, but when they go off shift at 10PM, thee are required by law to hand him over to DYFS, and he would have to be put into the system.
He had made the varsity football team as a freshman lineman and was seeing significant game time. He wasn't just large for his age he was huge. He was catching up because it had been a good year and had missed driving with the family group because he had just been in the state 4A playoffs. Somebody from AA demanded his mother promptly produce a local relative. . .or they would do some undefined else with her little boy and got her all freaked out. She demanded her sister in law leave for the airport immediately, even though there was a severe thunderstorm warning and it wasn't really safe to drive.
Last edited by jayer; Jul 28, 2016 at 6:25 pm